Search

Background. Various methods have been proposed to treat plantar fasciitis. Among these, autologous blood transfusion has been discussed and investigated in the past few years, the findings indicate its effects in the medium term, and in some studies, better results were observed compared to corticosteroids. This study was conducted with the aim of comparing the effect of two therapeutic methods of local injection of autologous blood and corticosteroid with the control group in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Methods. In this prospective study that took place in Shahid Beheshti Hospital, Babol, during 2020–2021, 90 plantar fasciitis patients were examined in two treatment groups by corticosteroid injection or autologous blood. Their levels of pain and satisfaction were recorded during three and six months by the visual analog scale (VAS) and the Roles and Maudsley Scale (RMS). The data were described and analyzed by SPSS-22 using descriptive indices and statistical analysis tests at a significance level of 0.05. Results. There was no significant difference in pain and satisfaction during the third month of steroid and autologous blood transfusions. However, in the sixth month, the patients in the autologous blood group had significantly less pain than those in the steroid group (P= 0.001), and their level of satisfaction was significantly higher than that of patients in the steroid injection group (P= 0.018). The mean pain intensity based on VAS in six months was 5.40 ± 1.37 and 3.76 ± 1.87 in the steroid and autologous blood groups, respectively (P< 0.001). Based on the Wilcoxon test, the VAS score increased significantly in the steroid group in the sixth month compared to the third month (P= 0.011), while it decreased in the autologous blood group (P< 0.001). Conclusion. Based on the findings, autologous blood injection in plantar fasciitis over six months had significant pain-reducing effects and satisfaction versus corticosteroid injection. However, after three months, these effects were not significant compared to corticosteroids. Practical Implications. Based on the findings, autologous blood injection in plantar fasciitis over six months had significant pain-reducing effects and satisfaction versus corticosteroid injection. However, after three months, these effects were not significant compared to corticosteroids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aim: Caregivers of cancer patients play an important role in the admission and treatment process. Sometimes caregivers suffer from mental and physical problems that can have a negative impact on the treatment and recovery process of cancer patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the rate of major depression in caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy referred to 5 Azar Hospital in 2021. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, caregivers of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy referred to the clinic and oncology department of 5 Azar Hospital in Gorgan in 2021 were examined. A number of 127 caregivers were selected based on the inclusion criteria. after obtaining a written consent form from the caregivers, the Beck depression questionnaire (BDI-II) and the demographic information checklist were completed. Data were measured with SPSS23 statistical software and frequency tests (number-percentage), chi-score and Fisher's exact test. The significance level was 0.05. Results: 61.4% of caregivers were female and 56.7% of them were over 35 years old (middle age). 69.3% were married, 81.1% were from Fars, and 56.7% had university education. 16.5% mothers, 52.8% children and 30.7% husbands were sick. Out of 46.5% caregivers, 9.4% had mild depression, 25.2% had moderate depression, and 11.8% had severe depression. There was no significant relationship between depression and age, gender, and education level. Conclusion: The level of depression among the studied subjects was significant, but the level of depression of the patients' caregivers had no significant relationship with their gender, age, education and ethnicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sertraline is one of the most commonly used selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors for patients with major depressive disorder. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction among patients who use selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors is 40%–45% for women and 20%–30% for men. A strategy to prevent this side effect is combination therapy with medications such as buspiron and Ritalin. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of bupropion and Ritalin on sexual dysfunction among patients who use sertraline. Methods. This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in 2018. Fifty eligible women aged 20–45 years old were purposefully selected from the psychiatric clinics of Yahyanejad and Ruhani hospitals, Babol, Iran. Structured interview was used to screen participants for major depressive disorder, sertraline use, and sexual dysfunction. All participants completed the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale and were randomly allocated to the bupropion and the Ritalin group through block randomization. All participants re-completed the Scale one month after the intervention. Data were analyzed through SPSS software by repeated measure analysis of variance. Results. All fifty participants (25 in each group) completed the study. The mean of participants’ age was 36.38±5.64 years and the mean score of their sexual dysfunction was 23.44±3.14 at pretest and 19.52±4.92 at posttest. Between-group differences respecting the mean scores of sexual dysfunction and all its items were insignificant both at pretest (P=0.886) and posttest (P=0.872). However, within-group comparisons revealed that the mean score of sexual dysfunction significantly decreased in both groups (P<0.001). Conclusion. This study concludes the same efficacy of sustained release bupropion and Ritalin in significantly reducing sexual dysfunction among patients who used sertraline. Practical Implications. According to the results of the present study and the similar efficacy of slow-release bupropion and Ritalin in improving sexual dysfunction caused by sertraline, it seems that Ritalin, due to its effectiveness in treatment, is an easier drug to use. It is more cost-effective and a better alternative to bupropion in improving sexual dysfunction in patients who are candidates for treatment with serotonin- reuptake inhibitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background As congenital gastrointestinal diseases are pretty common and can lead to fatal consequences when combined with congenital heart diseases, we conducted a study in Iran to explore the relationship and prevalence of these two conditions. Our objective was to identify the types and frequency of congenital heart diseases in children who also have gastrointestinal anomalies. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study. The research population was the patients referred to the Gastrointestinal Clinic of Hazrat Masoumeh Children's Subspecialty Hospital during the 2011-2017. In this study, the echocardiography in the patients’ files performed by a pediatric heart specialist was examined, and in the next step, the patients were divided into two groups with and without heart disorders. Gastrointestinal abnormalities were also recorded in the relevant checklist. Finally, the recorded information was entered into SPSS software version 22, and Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were used to compare the qualitative findings. The significant level for all tests was considered to be 0.05. Results: The average age of the children in this study was 7.93±7.74 months. 105 boys (54.7%) and 87 girls (45.3%) were examined. 167 children (87%) had cardiovascular abnormalities and 25 children (13%) had no abnormalities. The most common types of cardiovascular abnormalities were 69 (35.9%) septal defects, 36 (18.8%) atrial septal defects, and 22 (11.5%) pulmonary valve stenosis. The least frequent abnormalities were cardiomyopathy in three (1.6%) and ventricular inter-atrial septal defects along with atrial septal defects in one (0.5%) patient There was not a significant correlation between congenital heart diseases and frequency of closed anus, rectovaginal fistula, Hirschsprung, anal stenosis, rectal prolapse, perianal fistula, esophageal atresia, pyloric hypertrophy, intestinal obstruction, annular pancreas, biliary atresia, diaphragmatic hernia, Meckel's diverticulum.(P>0.05). A significant relationship was found only between omphalocele and pyloric hypertrophy with the presence of cardiovascular disorders (P<0.05). Conclusion: The results showed that congenital heart diseases have a high prevalence in infants with gastrointestinal anomalies, so cardiac examination is mandatory in all infants with gastrointestinal anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In the treatment process of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, one of the threatening complications is pulmonary complications such as barotrauma. Objective This study aims to investigate the prevalence of barotrauma in COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU) of two hospitals in Rasht, Iran. Methods This retrospective study was conducted on COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICUs of Razi and Poursina hospitals in Rasht in 2020. Their files were studied, and their demographic/clinical data and pulmonary complications were extracted using a checklist by an anesthesia resident. Results Out of 140 patients, 81(57.9%) received non-invasive mechanical ventilation and 59(42.1%) had invasive ventilation. Barotrauma was observed in 9 cases (6.4%), 8(88.9%) in the form of pneumothorax and one (11.1%) in the form of both pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema. The results showed that the incidence of barotrauma was significantly higher among patients who received invasive mechanical ventilation (P=0.003). No significant difference was observed among patients received noninvasive ventilation (P>0.05). Conclusion The prevalence of barotrauma among COVID-19 patients in the study hospitals is low, which indicates the proper performance of the attending physicians and compliance with the standard guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Caring for a patient undergoing hemodialysis is a stressful experience that causes a heavy care burden. With the outbreak of COVID-19, family caregivers of these patients had increased worry about the risk of infection in the dialysis centers. This fear can make their care burden heavier. This study aims to investigate the impact of coping skills training on the care burden experienced by family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Materials & Methods This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2020 on 60 family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis at the Comprehensive Treatment Center for Special Diseases in Birjand, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received coping skills training in six sessions. All participants completed the Zarit burden interview before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed in SPSSsoftware, version 19. Results The two groups were homogeneous regarding demographic information (P>0.05). Both groups had a moderate to severe care burden before the intervention. A significant difference was reported in the care burden score of the intervention group after training (P<0.001). Conclusion Coping skills training can reduce the care burden of the family caregivers of patients undergoing hemodialysis. Therefore, coping skills training can be used by nursing managers to reduce the care burden of family caregivers of patients with hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses working in psychiatric departments were also involved, which affected their mental health. The present study aims to determine the effect of psychological immunization on perceived stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19 in nurses working in the psychiatry department of a hospital in Zahedan, Iran. Materials & Methods This is a quasi-experimental study that was conducted from February to June 2022. Participants were 50 nurses from the psychiatry department of Baharan Hospital in Zahedan city who were selected by a census method, and were assigned to intervention and control groups. Data collection tools included a demographic form, the perceived stress scale, and the corona disease anxiety scale. The psychological immunization was provided in two four-hour workshops. Data analysis was done in SPSS software, version 16 using mean, standard deviation and chi-square test, independent t-test, paired t-test, and Fisher’s exact test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Most of the nurses had an infection with COVID-19 and were vaccinated. The mean and score of anxiety decreased from 11.96±10.05 to 8.12±6.92 in the intervention group (P=0.004) and decreased from 11.84±10.26 to 8.40±6.51 in the control group (P=0.07). The mean score of perceived stress changed from 27.45±5.56 to 27.20±4.20 after intervention in the intervention group (P=0.8) and from 27.48±4.71 to 28.32±4.87 in the control group (P=0.43). Conclusion The psychological immunization program has no significant effect on anxiety and stress caused by COVID-19 in nurses of psychiatric departments in Zahedan, Iran. It is recommended that psychiatric hospital managers should pay attention to the psychological problems of nurses at the beginning of the pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Soft tissue reactive lesions are the most common oral lesions. Eosinophils are leukocytes with multiple functions, which are considered to have multiple roles including angiogenesis and fibrogenesis. Considering the importance of reactive lesions and their prevalence in the Iranian population, this study attempts to investigate the role of eosinophils in the formation of common reactive lesions of the oral cavity. Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study, 26 case of pyogenic granuloma, 27 case of irritation fibroma and 27 case of peripheral ossifying fibroma were selected from the archive of the Oral Pathology Department of Isfahan Dental School, which were prepared by excisional biopsy method. Clinical information including age, gender and location of the lesion was extracted. Congo red staining was performed and the number of eosinophil was counted. All data was entered into SPSS24 software and was statistically analyzed by Chisquare, Fisher's exact and Mann-Whitney tests. P<0.05 was considered as a significant difference. Result: The highest mean number of eosinophils was counted in pyogenic granuloma (24.88±32.08) and the lowest was counted in irritiation fibroma (10.11±23.22). According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, there was a significant difference in the average number of eosinophils (P = 0.001) Conclusion: The number of eosinophils in the studied lesions, especially pyogenic granuloma is noticeable and can play a role in the pathogenesis of these lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Due to the high lethality of aluminum phosphide as well as the lack of antidote for its treatment, this study aimed to determine the effect of intravenous lipid emulsion on the outcome of hospitalization in the patients poisoned by rice pill . Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 19 patients aged over 18 years and poisoned by rice pill were investigated to determine the characteristics and outcomes of the patients as well as to detect the effect of intravenous lipid emulsion on the patients’ outcome in a six-year period. A data collection form was used to collect research data. Patients were treated with two types of standard treatment regimen (first group) and standard regimen+intravenous fat (second group). ECG changes, heart ejection fraction (EF), and the patients’ outcomes (death or discharge) were evaluated. Results. In the first group, 16 patients and 3 patients received treatment regimen in second group. Also, 89.5% of the patients had sinus tachycardia in ECG. There was no significant difference between two groups except in terms of diastolic blood pressure (P=0.012). All cases of ECG changes were sinus tachycardia in the second group, while sinus tachycardia (87.4%), V-tach (6.3%), and PAC (6.3%) were observed in the first group. The mortality rate in first and second groups were 87.5% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion. Application of lipid emulsion was a relatively new therapeutic approach to clinical treatment of rice pill poisoning, and the studies on given issue were limited. Therefore, it was recommended that prospective studies should be carried out based on clinical trials to further investigate its application. Practical Implications. It was necessary to develop an effective antidote for Aluminum phosphide Poisoning since it had a high mortality rate as well as a high prevalence in Iran. Unfortunately, there was no antidote for dealing with this poison. Application of intravenous lipid emulsion may have been effective in reducing the hospital mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: Leptospirosis is a common infectious disease between humans and animals, which is of particular importance in terms of global spread. The cause of the disease is Leptospira bacteria. This bacterium is gram-negative and spiral-shaped and belongs to the Leptospiraceae family and the Spirochetes branch (1,2). The genus Leptospira is divided into 20 species (9 pathogenic, 5 intermediate and 6 saprophytic) based on phylogenic and DNA analysis. Saprophytic species (eg L. biflex). Leptospira species cause a common disease called leptospirosis. Leptospira settle in the kidney tubules of animals (susceptible mammals) and because of this the host animals remain infected for a long time and expel the bacteria (7). Livestock (cows and sheep) are sources of leptospirosis and should be taken care of to prevent transmission of the disease to humans (8,9). Leptospira species remain in the environment for a long time, transfer to humans through damaged skin and mucous membranes, mortality and economic losses are considered as an important global health issue (2,7,10). Every year, half a million cases of leptospirosis (45 cases per 100,000 people) are reported worldwide (11). Leptospirosis is more common in hot seasons and in tropical and rainy regions of the world (11,12). The incubation period of leptospirosis in humans is about 10 days and may be asymptomatic (12). The clinical face of this disease is so variable that it is considered as a disease with a thousand faces and it can never be diagnosed based on clinical signs and symptoms alone, so diagnosis is more based on trusting the laboratory in showing and observing the cause of the disease. And the accuracy of laboratory methods is stable. Definitive diagnosis of leptospirosis is based on laboratory tests such as bacterial culture, ELISA test, MAT and PCR (16), which is the standard serological method for identifying leptospirosis antibodies according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Microscopic agglutination test (MAT), which is a method It is cheap with acceptable sensitivity and it is possible to access it (17) and it shows the wide presence of Leptospira in the world (16). Bacteremia develops within 7-10 days after symptoms of infection by Leptospira and antibodies can be detected in the blood (18,19). The aim of the present study was to investigate leptospirosis seroepidemiologically among the farmers of Kohdasht in Lorestan province by microscopic agglutination method (MAT) and also to determine and obtain the serovars infecting people in Kohdasht region. The results obtained from the present research can provide a lot of help to researchers in medical and veterinary sciences of the country, and it is also very useful in human and animal health and rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients. Methods: The study was conducted on the blood samples of 200 cattle farmers of Kohdasht in February 2013. After selecting the livestock farms, he went to the livestock farm and took 10 cc of blood samples from the hand veins of the people who were active in livestock farming. After the complete collection of samples, microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and measurement of serum contamination were performed to determine the contamination of serum samples with Leptospira serovars on blood serum samples. The results obtained from the MAT method were analyzed with SPSS software (Version 16) through Chi-square and Fisher's test. P<0.01 was considered as significant difference. Results: 48 serum samples (24%) were positive among 200 tested sera at the 1:100 dilution. Serum samples were shown positive reaction with two L. Grippotyphosa and L. canicola serovars. The prevalence of Grippotyphosa 66.67% and Canicola 33.33% were resulted by MAT. 31 samples (64.58%) were related to males and 17 cases (35.42%) females among 60 positive samples. The highest prevalence of Leptospira serovars was founded in more than 50 years group with 16 cases. P. value based on gender was 0.01. (p<0.01). Conclusion: Leptospira pathogenic species can survive for a long time under suitable environmental conditions (humidity and temperature). Domestic animals (cows, sheep and dogs) are considered important as hosts of this bacterium in the spread of leptospirosis and play a significant role (20). Leptospira is released into the environment through the urine of animals. Human infection with leptospirosis is caused by contact with the urine of infected animals (21). Diagnosis of leptospirosis is difficult for many doctors, and its definitive diagnosis is possible with laboratory methods. The MAT method is universally used as a reference test for the diagnosis of leptospirosis. In the present study, the prevalence of leptospirosis among farmers in Kohdasht was 24%, and the serovars Gripotiphosa and Canicula had the highest prevalence, respectively. The P value of p<0.01 was significant for gender and showed that leptospiral infection is different according to gender. All over the world, studies on the prevalence of leptospirosis have been carried out. In Iran, in 2004, the prevalence of leptospirosis in Gilan University Hospital was reported by Honarmand et al. to be 24.6% (22). In 2016, in a serological study of leptospiral infection of sheep using the MAT method in Ahvaz, Hajikolaei et al. reported the occurrence of 14.9% leptospirosis and the highest number of leptospirosis serovars was related to Pomona with 14 cases (43.8%), respectively. canicula with 7 cases (21.9%) and ictrohemorrhage with 4 cases (14.5%) (23). This study showed that transmission of leptospirosis is carried out by sheep as hosts, so livestock farmers are prone to leptospirosis. A study was conducted on dairy cows in Hamedan industrial farms in 2009 by Bahari et al., out of 80 blood samples, 18 were positive for Leptospira and the highest serovar prevalence was Canicula (21.25%) (24). This study is another proof of the susceptibility of livestock farmers to leptospirosis. In 2008, Agampodi et al. conducted a study on 404 patients with fever in Sri Lanka using the MAT method, of which 155 patients were found to have leptospirosis. In this study, the prevalence of serovars Pyrogenesis (28.7%) and Hardjo (18.8%) was reported (25). In 2012, Ngbede et al. conducted a study in Nigeria using the MAT method on 142 blood samples of cows slaughtered in a slaughterhouse, and 5 samples were found to have antibodies against Hardjo serovar (26). Goris et al. in 2013 in the Netherlands in a study they conducted on sick people concluded that serovars Ictrohemorrhagia, Hardjo, and Gripotyphosa cause severe leptospirosis in humans (27). In 2014, Dreyfus et al. used the MAT method to investigate the risk factors of leptospirosis among 567 slaughterhouse workers in New Zealand. They found that 11% of the workers had antibodies against Hardjo and Pomona serovars in their blood serum (28). Leptospirosis is related to occupation and environment (29). Floods and inundation as well as contact with animal waste are the most important factors of leptospirosis infection (30). Leptospirosis may lead to failure of liver, kidney and many organs of the body. In general, leptospirosis is spreading, so disease control should be considered. it is concluded that livestock farmers are one of the groups at risk of leptospirosis due to the presence of different leptospira serovars in animals. Livestock farmers can prevent the occurrence of leptospiral infection by controlling their safety and health. The results of this study are very useful in the research of medical and veterinary sciences as well as human and animal health and rapid diagnosis and treatment of patients and provide a lot of information to researchers in disease control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system and most often occurs in people between the ages of 20 to 50 years. Orem's self-care model is one of the models that have had a special approach to human and health care issues. The aim of this study was to review the effect of self-care training based on the Orem model on the burden on caregivers of patients.. Methods. The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 76 main members of the family caring for patients with multiple sclerosis in Bandar Abbas with a pre-test, post-test design and a control group. The study units were randomly selected and divided into two groups of control and intervention. The intervention group was trained according to the Orem training program in patients with amnesia during 6-8 sessions of 40 minutes. In order to assess the burden on caregivers, a 22-item "Zarit" questionnaire was used and a questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention in both groups. The results were analyzed with SPSS software version 26. Results. The difference between the mean of burden before the intervention (44.6 13 13) and after the intervention (33.7 10 10) in the intervention group was significant (P<0.05), which indicated the positive effect of training on decrease in the burden. The increase in the age of the intervention group was associated with an increase in the burden on the caregivers (P<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the burden on caregivers and the amount of income in the intervention group (P<0.05). Conclusion. Educating the caregiver of these patients can play an important role in reducing the burden on the caregiver during the long period of care. Applying Orem self-care model enables people to play a more active role in their care and treatment, thereby improving self-care, reducing fear and dependence, increasing motivation and self-confidence, and a sense of independence. Practical Implications. Application of research findings in nursing practice, nursing service management and nursing training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 30% of all deaths worldwide. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of education through online social media (WhatsApp) on the anxiety and satisfaction of candidates for coronary angiography. Materials & Methods In this study, participants were candidates for elective coronary angiography referred to Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran from May to July 2021. They were assigned to the intervention (n=43) and control (n=43) groups. Data were collected using a demographic form, the Beck anxiety inventory (BAI) and the visual analog scale (VAS) for measuring satisfaction. Data analysis was performed in SPSS software, version 16 using independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. Results Both groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic characteristics at baseline, and there was no significant difference in BAI scores between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (P=0.229). The results of independent t-test showed a significant difference in the mean BAI score before and after intervention in two groups (P<0.001), indicating the effect of intervention on reducing anxiety. The results of independent t-test showed that the satisfaction in the intervention group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.001). The results of the paired t-test showed that in both intervention (P<0.001) and control (P=0.005) groups, the BAI score decreased significantly after the intervention compared to the pre-intervention phase. The effect size of education on anxiety was 0.9 and the effect size on satisfaction was 1.88, which shows the high effect of the educational intervention. Conclusion The use of mobile social networks for education is effective in reducing anxiety and improving satisfaction in patients undergoing coronary angiography. Therefore, this interventional method can be used by nurses as an effective method in medical centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused a great deal of conflict and tension between couples and their families. Meanwhile, less attention has been paid to potential tensions and conflicts in families exposed to high stress, such as military families. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of cognitive-behavioral therapy on changing the conflict resolution styles in military personnel and their spouses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 66 military personnel and their spouses were included. They were then assigned to the case (n = 32) and the control (n = 34) groups using block randomization method. Data were collected by using a demographic information form and Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II. The later form was completed before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was presented to the case group during 9 sessions. Each session lasted 90 minutes. The Control group underwent no intervention. Independent t-test, Chi-square, and Fisher's exact test were used to analyze the data by SPPSS software (version 22). Results: The results showed that the use of non-constructive conflict resolution style was significantly reduced in the case group compared to the control group (P<0.001) after the implementation of cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition, it was found that the use of constructive conflict resolution style increased significantly in the case group compared to the control group (P<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggested that cognitive-behavioral therapy reduced the use of non-constructive conflict resolution style but increased the use of constructive conflict resolution style among military personnel and their spouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives HIV virus and its subsequent disease is one of the most important challenges of the world health system. Although antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a breakthrough in patients’ life quality, it has complications like side effects. The side effect causes are diverse. One of the factors considered about side effects is genes polymorphism. This study investigates the relationship between rs2712816 and rs949096 polymorphisms on SLCO2B1 gene which is one of the most important antiretroviral drugs transporters. Materials and Methods In this Cross-sectional study, the two variants, rs2712816 and rs949096 were genotyped on 161 samples of HIV-1 infected patients. Consequently, the records of patients in Imam Khomeini Behavioral Diseases Center were reviewed and necessary data were collected. Statistical analysis was done by chi-square, exact Fisher test, and Mann Whitney U test using SPSS 26.0. Results The results show that there is a significant relationship between AA genotype in rs949069 polymorphism and dizziness and urticaria in patients (p< 0.05). The rs2712816 polymorphism and side effects did not show any significant relationship. Conclusions There are different factors involved in antiretroviral therapy side effects. According to the results of this study, the rs949069 is one of the factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immune system disorders as one of the major problems in dialysis patients increase their susceptibility to pneumococcal pneumonia. The present study was conducted for the first time in Iran with the aim of determining the prevalence of natural acquired immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae in hemodialysis patients in Jahrom, Iran. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 89 hemodialysis patients in Jahrom-Iran, 2022. The presence of anti-pneumococcal antibodies in the serum of patients was assessed by ELISA method. Demographic information, mean history of hemodialysis treatment and number of times per week were extracted from patients' records. Data were analyzed using SPSS Statistics-23 statistical software (IBM, USA) using descriptive statistics, chi-square and Fisher's exact test. Results: The prevalence of immunity to Streptococcus pneumoniae in dialysis patients was 20.22%. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of pneumococcal immunity between participants in terms of age groups, sex and number of dialysis sessions per week (p<0.05) but there was no statistically significant relationship with the duration of dialysis treatment (p=0.09). Conclusions: Prevalence of this type of immunity, which indicates a history of pneumococcal infection in dialysis patients in Jahrom. Due to the ability to prevent this infection by pneumococcal vaccination, the need for Iranian dialysis patients for pneumococcal vaccination is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims Knee osteoarthritis (KO) is one of the most common causes of pain, reduced function and disability in the elderly. Exercise is one of the methods suggested to manage the pain caused by KO. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of a home workout program on reducing pain in the elderly with KO. Materials & Methods In this randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in March 2021 for three months, 70 older adults with KO were selected using a convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. The workout program was first implemented twice a day for 4 weeks in the clinic as a trial. Then, it was performed twice a day at home for another 4 weeks. Before and after the exercise, the patients were evaluated by the pain subscale of the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The collected data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 18 using independent t, paired t test, chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. The significance level was set at 0.05. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic and clinical variables and in the mean pain score before the intervention (P=0.587). After the intervention, a significant reduction in pain intensity was reported in the exercise group (P= 0.009). Conclusion The home workout program is effective in reducing the pain of the elderly with KO. It is recommended to use it as a simple and cost-effective intervention to rehabilitate patients with KO along with other treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Preeclampsia is a common complication of the second half of pregnancy. Sleep disorders can cause high blood pressure by causing oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the voluntary relationship between sleep and preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: This is a case-control study that was performed on 240 women referred to university hospitals in Mashhad. Sampling was performed in the case group of hospitalized women with a definite diagnosis of preeclampsia and in the control group among pregnant women without preeclampsia referred to the obstetrics clinic. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaire and gynecological / obstetric records, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Questionnaire and clinical evaluation form to determine the symptoms and severity of preeclampsia. Data analysis was performed using SPSS statistical software (version 22) and MannWhitney, Chi-square and Fisher tests. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical Considerations: Research Ethics Code: IR.MUMS.NURSE.REC.1397.042 Findings: The mean amount of real sleep at night in the group of healthy individuals (8.4. 2.3) was significantly higher than patients (8.8. 2.2) (p = 0.028). In terms of loud snoring, waking up in the middle of the night was most common in the affected group (P <0.001). There was a statistically significant difference between the two groups in terms of sleep quality score level (P <0.001) based on logistic regression test in women with severe sleep problems at risk of preeclampsia (P <0.001, 95% CI 2.9-42.2, 11 / 11OR :) (11/11) was equal compared to healthy women. Conclusion: The present study showed that sleep disorders in pregnancy are associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims A direct relationship between infertility in women and their exposure to domestic violence has been reported, and several interventions have been suggested to reduce the exposure to violence in infertile women. The current study aims to assess the effect of problem-solving skill training (PSST) on the exposure of Iranian infertile women to domestic violence. Materials & Methods This is a quasi-experimental study with a pre-test/post-test/follow-up design using a control group, which was conducted in the infertility clinic of Shahid Akbarabadi Hospital affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. A total of 80 infertile women who had experienced domestic violence participated in this study. The samples were selected using a convenience sampling method and were divided into two groups of intervention (n=40) and control (n=40) by the block randomization method. The intervention group received PSST online at 4 sessions per week each for 2 hours. The samples were followed up two months after training. To collect data, a demographic and obstetric form and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CST2) were used. Data analysis was done in SPSS v.16 software by using t-test, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcoxon test. Results Totally, 38 participants in the control group and 34 in the intervention group were followed up. Physical assault, psychological aggression, sexual coercion, sustained injury, and the negotiation did not show significant differences between the two groups before and after intervention (P>0.05). The mean of psychological aggression significantly increased after the intervention in both control (P=0.001) and intervention (P=0.026) groups. Conclusion PSST do not cause a significant difference in exposure to domestic violence between intervention and control groups of infertile women. The increase in exposure to psychological aggression in both groups after PSST can be due to the coincidence of the study with the COVID-19 pandemic. Further studies are recommended to provide PSST by face-to-face method along with exercises and group activities and teaching other skills such as communication skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nowadays, the Internet and cyberspace play an important role in obtaining medical information. Many people on the Internet are looking for various information about diseases and their side effects. Aim: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Cyberchondria among medical students in Kermanshah. Method: The present study was conducted using the descriptive-cross-sectional method. The population was all students of the University of Medical Sciences in Kermanshah in 2020. The sample of the current study included 372 students (206 males and 166 females) who were selected by convenience sampling method. The instrument used was a short form of Cyberchondria severity. Furthermore, SPSS statistical software version 25 was used to analyze the data. Descriptive indices of frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, inferential indices of independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance test, and Scheffe test were utilized in this research. Results: The results of independent t-test showed that there is a significant difference in the total score of Cyberchondria (P=0.019) between men and women and, women reported higher rates of cyberchondria. In terms of prevalence, most students were in the moderate range of Cyberchondria (74.46%), and the prevalence of severe Cyberchondria status of the participants was estimated at 13.97%. Conclusion: Since medical students in hospitals face various clients and different symptoms, they use the Internet a lot to obtain information in the field of medicine. Based on the results of the research, it can be concluded that Cyberchondria has a relatively high prevalence among medical students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) are one of the most common causes of the patient's referral to dental clinics. Considering the role of related factors in its creation, the purpose of this study was to investigate the relative frequency of factors related to temporomandibular disorders in patients aged 20 to 50 years referred to dental clinics in Isfahan in 1397. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive and analytical study, 324 patients referred to Isfahan dental clinics in 1397 were randomly included. Factors related to TMD and demographic factors of patients were recorded with clinical examination by a trained dentist and self-declaration of patients in the data collection form. The frequency and relevance were analysed by SPSS 22 software and chi-square, fisher and logistic regression statistic tests. Results: At least one of the TMD related factors was present in 40.7% of the subjects, which the most common factors related to TMD was posterior edentulousness (49.7%). History of jaw dislocation was more common in men (P=0.014) and the frequency of posterior edentulousness was more common in in women (P=0.003). As the age increased, the frequency of posterior edentulousness (P=0.000) and earache (P=0.009) increased. The frequency of posterior edentulousness was higher in housekeepers (P=0.000), the frequency of earache was higher in employees (P=0.005) and the history of jaw dislocation was higher in self-employed persons (P=0.047). Conclusion: The high prevalence of TMD and related factors, such as a history of jaw dislocation, posterior edentulousness, earache, and clenching, requires attention to be identified and treat these problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Improving the level of knowledge, attitude and skills of nurses in the field of hemovigilance can be very helpful in the field of blood consumption management. This study aimed to determine the effect of education by SMS method on hemovigilance. Materials and Methods This study was semi-experimental in which all nurses working in two hospitals of Bandar Abbas in the first 6 months of 2018 were our statistical research community. Two hospitals were selected through random sampling and divided into intervention and control groups. Then, 30 nurses were selected from each hospital. For the nurses of the intervention group, 60 text messages about homovigilance were sent twice a day. Once before the training during the hospital inspection, the checklist on how to evaluate the blood care system (hemovigilance) of the hospital with the code 00.HV.003.CHL/01 was filled out and the second time after the training course and the scores of the homovigilance assessment checklists were compared. Data were analyzed using SPSS19 using Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, independent t-test, and paired t-test. Results There were no differences between the two groups regarding the background variables of nurses. The scores of hemovigilance checklist before the intervention in the two hospitals were not significantly different; however, after the intervention the score of hemovigilance in the hospital of the intervention group was higher (p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Thus, education by SMS method is effective on blood care score and the method used in the present study can apply to train nurses on homovigilance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The cause and incidence of the maxillofacial fractures changes according to the mechanism of the injury and demographic factors. Detecting the possible relationship between the causes of the accident and the most common bone areas that usually affected by that specific accident, can be helpful in faster and easier diagnosis of the type of possible injury in traumatic patient. So the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the distribution of midface and mandibular fracture areas and the causes of the accident and also investigation of the epidemiological factors. Materials & Methods: This is a retrospective descriptive study and datas were analyzed with Chi-Square and Fisher exact analysis tests with SPSS 16 (95% CI). Results: This study was done on 216 patients with a total of 249 midface and mandibular fractures. The ratio of males to females was 7.1. The age range was 5 to 82 years (mean 29 years). Most fractures were related to midface (50.6%) and in age range 20-30 years old. distribiution of Fractures in age groups (p value > 0.027), distribiution of accident causes in two generic groups (p value > 0.001), distribiution of accident causes in separation of midface from mandibular fractures in two generic groups (p value < 0.0001, p value > 0.002, p value > 0.001) and distribiution of treatment process in separation of midface from mandibular fractures (p value > 0.0001) were statistically significant. Distribution of accident causes in age groups (p value > 0.0001) and in separation of midface from mandibular fractures, was only significant in midface. The most frequent cause of fractures in males was motor cycle accident and in females was car accidents. Nasal is the most common fracture site of the midface (46.25%) and body (61.23%), parasymphysis (18.52%) and angle (16.2%) are the most common fracture sites of mandible. Angle and zmc were most fractured in fight, parasymphysis was most fractured in falling and other causes are mostly lead to a broken nose. Conclusion: Having the Knowledge about the sites that are most commonly fractured in every accident, can helps the clinician in recognizing the sites that should pay more attention to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hyoid bone is a solitary bone, which is composed of a main body and two pairs of horns (greater, and lesser). This bone has an important function in respiration, swallowing, and speech. This study aimed to define the morphology and the frequency of fusion of hyoid bone and its relationship with age and sex on CBCT images. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive analytical study, the CBCT images of 163 patients (92 females and 71 males) were analyzed using Type I OnDemand 3D software. In the axial cross-sections, the thickness and length of the hyoid body was measured; in coronal cross-sections, hyoid bone height was measured; and on the thick axial crosssections, the angle between the hyoid bone greater horn and the hyoid bone body midline was measured. The body and greater horn were classified into four categories in terms of fusion (non-fusion with a distance > 2.5 mm, non-fusion with a distance < 2.5 mm, partial fusion and complete fusion). The data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, chi-squared, and Fisher’s exact tests, paired t-test, and Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test using SPSS 25 (α = 0.05). Results: In 79.7% of the patients the fusion was similar on both sides (p value = 0.806). There was no significant difference in hyoid bone fusion morphology between male and female groups and between the two sides (p value = 0.977). The most and least frequent types of hyoid bone fusion were type II (non-fusion with a distance < 2.5 mm) and type III (partial fusion), respectively. With the exception of the 10-19 year age group, type II category was the most common type, while type I was the most common in the 1–19-year age group. Hyoid bone fusion morphology varied significantly between the different age groups (p value < 0.05). Hyoid bone size (thickness, length, and height) was greater in men compared to women (p value < 0.05); however, the angle exhibited no significant difference between the male and female subjects (p value = 0.591). Of all the hyoid bone dimensions, only the length of its body was significantly different between the different age groups (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: With advancing age, the distance between the body and the greater horn of the hyoid bone decreased, and its fusion frequency increased. Only the hyoid body length was different between the different age groups, and the other hyoid bone dimensions were the same. All the hyoid bone dimensions were greater in men compared to women, with the exception of the angle. It is possible to differentiate males from females based on the above-mentioned parameters. CBCT can help reconstruct the hyoid bone using its multiplanar reconstruction with lower radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Considering the importance of donor selection process in blood safety, this study aimed at comparison of frequency of intravenous drug use (IDU) among accepted HCV positive blood donors in different regions of Iran. Materials and Methods This cross sectional-analytical study was conducted on serologically confirmed HCV positive blood donors who referred to blood transfusion centers for counseling all over the country during November 2015 to May 2017. All provinces were classified in three regions. IDU status and demographic specification of participants were analyzed using questionnaires. Chi square, fisher exact and ANOVA with STATA software version 13 were used for statistical analysis. Results Participants, according to the number of provinces, sample size and geographical proximity to three areas were classified including 76 from North; 105 from West-South and 90 from East- Center individuals with the mean ages of 37.73 ± 8.27, 38.83 ± 8.80 and 36.86 ± 8.63 and history of IDU of 37 (48.68%), 45 (42.86%) and 41 (45.56%), respectively. No significant differences between different regions of the country were found in the frequency of IDU voluntary blood donors with hepatitis C, age, gender, education status, marriage status (p > 0.05). Conclusions Approximately half of the voluntary blood donors with hepatitis C were IDUs. The frequency of IDU was similar among donors from different regions of Iran. Considering the fact that studied donors were found eligible in donor selection and donated the blood, though rejected during the screening phase, conducting research on the issue can increase the quality of blood donor selection and blood safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major epidemic public health problem of the 20th century. One of the most common complications of DM is peripheral neuropathy. This complication remains a big unsolved challenge for DM patients, endocrinologists, and nurses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a warm foot bath on peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was conducted on 70 diabetic patients at the Yazd Diabetes Research Center, Yazd, Iran. The study population was selected using the convenience sampling technique. They were randomly assigned into two groups of control (receiving routine care) and intervention (receiving routine care plus a warm foot bath). A warm foot bath was administered for 8 sessions lasting 20 min every other day, over 2 weeks. The data collection tool (i.e., a questionnaire) was completed by interviewing and examination in three phases (i.e., before the intervention and two weeks and one month after the intervention). The data were analyzed in SPSS software. Results: According to results, the mean neuropathy scores were obtained as 7.24, 4.51, and 4.39 before the intervention, two weeks post-intervention, and one month after the intervention, respectively. Based on the physical examination, these values were estimated at 4.09, 3.12, and 2.90 for the mentioned time points, respectively. With regard to the control group, the mean neuropathy scores in the three phases were respectively 7.48, 7.7, and 6.78 based on the history taking and 4.33, 4.7, and 3.84 according to the physical examination. The results revealed a significant difference between the intervention and control groups in terms of the posttest mean neuropathic score (P<0.001). Conclusion: Considering the mean changes in peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients, a warm foot bath can be recommended as an effective and simple nonpharmacological and home care intervention. However, it is required to perform further research in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Gum chewing is one of oral parafunctional habits and is considered as an etiologic factor for temporomandibular joint disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between type, duration and pattern of gum chewing and TMD signs and symptoms. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive‒ analytical study, 73 subjects aged 20-30 years, who were gum chewers, were evaluated by considering inclusion and exclusion criteria and ethical codes. Type, frequency and chewing patterns were evaluated by a questionnaire and signs and symptoms of TMD through clinical examinations and the data were recorded. Data analysis was carried out with SPSS 20, using chi-squared, Mann- Whitney and Fisher’s exact tests (p value ≤ 0.05). Results: In this study, the most common sign of TMD was joint clicks (31.5%). Jaw movement limitation was more prevalent in females (p value = 0.018). Type, history and duration of chewing gum consumption were not significantly related with signs and symptoms of TMD. Significant relationships were observed between the rate of gum chewing cycle (p value = 0.04), continuity of initial chewing cycle (p value = 0.048), time of change in chewing cycle (p value = 0.04) and some signs and symptoms of TMD. Conclusion: No significant relationship was found between the signs and symptoms of TMD and type and time of gum chewing; however, there were significant relations between the pattern of gum chewing, rate of gum chewing cycle and time of change in chewing cycle and the TMD signs and symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Oral cancers are the eighth most common cancers in males and the 15th in females. Squamous cell carcinoma comprises approximately 94% of oral malignancies. Oral cancer develops and progresses during two important biological stages. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of E-cadherin protein in different stages of oral mucosa SCC after evaluation of the role of this protein in the tumorigenesis of oral mucosa squamous cells. Materials & Methods: In the present retrospective, descriptive- analytical study, 20 paraffin blocks fixed with formalin, consisting of 10 samples with a diagnosis of well-differentiated oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 10 samples with a diagnosis of poorly differentiated OSCC, were selected and stained with immunohistochemistry technique, irrespective of the patient age and gender. In addition, 5 samples of normal oral mucosa were selected as controls. Then the stained samples were evaluated by two pathologists. Data were analyzed with Chi-squared, McNemar and Fisher’s exact tests using SPSS 20 (α = 0.05). Results: The expression of E-cadherin marker exhibited a significant decrease with a decrease in histological differentiation of OSCC at different differentiation levels in terms of location, staining and presence and absence of staining homogeneity of the marker. In addition, the staining of the marker exhibited significant differences between poorly and well-differentiated cells. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the expression of E-cadherin protein decreased with poor histological differentiation of squamous cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the most important steps in root canal treatment is to determine the exact working length as an effective factor in the success of treatment. Various tools and methods have been introduced to determine the working length, including electronic apex locators. This study was undertaken to compare the accuracy of three electronic apex locators, Root ZX, Woodpecker and Coxo in determining the actual working length. Materials & Methods: In this in vitro study, 30 maxillary central incisors meeting the inclusion criteria were selected and the working length of each tooth was determined by three electronic apex locators: Root ZX, Woodpecker and Coxo. After irrigating the root canals with 6% hypochlorite and 0.9% normal saline solutions, electronic measurements were performed using a #15 K-file in the range of 1±0.5 mm at the apical constriction according to the manufacturer's instructions. After abrading 4 mm of the root end, the actual working length was calculated under a microscope from the distance between the coronal reference point and the apical constriction. Data were analyzed with chisquared test and Fisher’s exact test, using SPSS 16 (α = 0.05). Results: The accuracy rates of Root ZX, Woodpecker and Coxo apex locators were 76.7% and 100%, 90% and 100%, and 93.3% and 100% in the range of 1 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. No significant differences were found between the working lengths measured by three apex locators and the actual working lengths. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, none of the three apex locators exhibited accuracy of 100% exactly at the apical constriction. There were no statistically significant differences between the working lengths obtained by three apex locators and the actual working lengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a predisposing factor for atherosclerosis. Stroke is a result of carotid artery atherosclerosis. Panoramic radiographs can help diagnose atherosclerosis. The current study assessed the prevalence of calcifications of carotid artery in diabetic and non-diabetic cases on panoramic radiographs. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, the prevalence of carotid calcification in 40 diabetic and 80 non-diabetic patients was assessed in the Faculty of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2014-15. All the patients underwent panoramic radiography and their demographic data, including age, gender, diabetic treatment received, duration of diabetes and fasting blood sugar were recorded. Then data of diabetic and non-diabetic cases were compared. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16, using chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression (α = 0.05). Results: In radiographic assessment of diabetic patients, 13 cases had carotid artery calcification while only 7 cases of non-diabetics had carotid artery calcification (p value = 0.001). Variables of age, gender, type of diabetic treatment, duration of disease and fasting blood sugar did not exhibit any significant relationship with carotid artery calcification (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, in panoramic radiography as a non-invasive technique, arterial calcification was higher among diabetic patients in comparison to non-diabetic subjects but this significant prevalence was not related with demographic factors. Further studies with larger sample sizes are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are defined as clinical conditions that involve the masticatory muscles, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or both. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between symptoms and recovery in patients with TMD. Materials & Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 165 records of patients with TMD referring to the Department of Occlusion, Mashhad Dental School from 2012 to 2017 were surveyed. Before the clinical examination, all the patients completed a questionnaire on their personal data and symptoms of joint disorders. All the patients were contacted and data were collected about the decrease in symptoms of joint disorder or its health. The treatment outcomes were characterized by a lack of recovery and improvements in joint symptoms. Data were analyzed with SPSS 18, using chisquared and Fisher’s exact tests (α = 0.05). Results: The records belonged to 53 men (32.1%) and 112 women (67.9%). The mean age of the subjects was 31.7 ± 13.6 years. The youngest and oldest subjects were 12 and 70 years of age, respectively. The number of women experiencing improvements was higher than men, but the difference was not statistically significant (p value = 0.145). Patients with joint clicks during mastication or mouth opening experienced significant improvements compared to those without these clicks (p value = 0.05). Conclusion: In general, use of conservative methods for the treatment of TMJ disorders is recommended. These therapies can be useful for all the individuals with TMD, regardless of variables such as age, sex, symptoms and habits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Radical prostatectomy is the preferred treatment for prostate cancer, and sexual dysfunction is one of its complications. Various causes, including ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and cigarette smoking, can also cause sexual dysfunction in healthy people. Concurrent study of these cardiovascular risk factors with Surgery on the degree of sexual dysfunction in any study in Iran was not performed. The purpose of this study was to compare the risk factors of ischemic cardiovascular disease in locally diagnosed prostate cancer patients with and without sexual dysfunction after radical prostatectomy. Methods: In this longitudinal study, 96 patients underwent radical prostatectomy from 103 patients. The presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease including cigarette smoking, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, hypertention, history of heart attacks were asked from patients. Electrocardiogram findings, echocardiography, Exercise test and cardiac thalium scan were investigated by a cardiologist. Sexual function status of patients before and after 6 months of surgery was evaluated by Persian IIEF questionnaire. The qualitative variables of the frequency of reporting and comparing them were done using Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test. Subsequently, all data were analyzed with spss version 19. Results: The mean age of the patients was 63.37 ± 7.9 years. Patients with and without sexual dysfunction were 22 (22.9%) and 74 (77%), respectively. The number of cardiovascular risk factors was statistically significant between the two groups with and without sexual dysfunction (P = 0.001). 84 patients were tested for exercise and 12 patients underwent cardiac thalium scan. Of the 84 patients, 32 (40.7%) were positive for the test, 52 (59.3%) were negative. Comparison of the IIEF score in two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.003). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and bad cardiovascular disease in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy surgery can affect the sexual potency of patients after surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Contaminated raw vegetables play an important role in the distribution of the parasitic infections. Parasitic contamination of vegetables may occur during the cultivation or marketing process. Identifying the rate and type of parasites transmitted by vegetables has public health impact on the population. Objective: This study aimed to determine the rate and type of parasitic contamination of the market vegetables in the city of Rasht, northern Iran. Materials and Methods: This analytical-descriptive study was conducted on 342 samples from 12 types of fresh vegetables. They were washed with water containing detergent and centrifuged. The sediments were microscopically examined for parasitic contamination by direct method. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS.21 using Chi Square and Fisher's Exact Test. Results: Human pathogenic parasites were identified in (4.1%) of the specimens. In general, (5.3%) of the vegetables were contaminated with both pathogenic and commensal organisms. Parasitic contaminations were identified on vegetables such as Coriander, Water cress, Parsley, Mint, Choochagh (Eryngium planum), Khaliwash (Ziziphora tenuior). Locally grown vegetables were significantly more contaminated than those grown out of Guilan Province (P < 0.006). Six species of pathogenic helminthes (eg., Hook Worm, Toxocara spp., Trichostrongylus spp., Trichuris spp., Strongyloides spp, Diploscapter spp.), two kinds of Free-living amoeba (Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria spp.) and also three kinds of protozoan commensal organisms (eg., Entamoeba. coli, Endolimax nana, Entamoeba spp ) of human gastrointestinal tract were identified. Among the tested vegetables, Choochaq (Eryngium planum) had the highest rate of parasitic contamination. Although vegetable contamination in warm seasons was more prevalent, the seasonal difference was not statistically significant (P < 0.133). Numerous types of Free-living nematodes' eggs , larval and adult stages were found in 65.8 % of the tested vegetables. Conclusion: Few protozoan and helminthes were detected in the examined vegetables. Local vegetables were more contaminated than those from out of province. In this study, the rate of vegetable parasitic contamination was lower than expected. However, in order to prevent the parasitic infections, more attention and care during washing the vegetables particularly local ones is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Periapical diseases are the end result of untreated pulpitis or failure of root canal therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the prevalence of different periapical lesions in terms of demographic variables in patients referring to the Department of Oral Pathology of Isfahan Dental School in three different time periods from 1988 to 2015. Materials & Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, biopsy samples available in the archives of Oral Pathology Department of Isfahan Dental School from1988 to 2015 were studied. Periapical (PA) lesions were evaluated and compared in terms of age, sex, type, etiology and location. Data were analyzed with SPSS. After data collection, data were analyzed with chi-squared test, Fisher’s exact test, ANOVA and Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results: Of 10686 oral biopsies, 582 (5.44%) were PA lesions. Of 582 PA lesions, 71.1% were dental granulomas and 15.3% were radicular cysts and the other cases were other lesions with lower prevalence rates; 41.4% of the lesions belonged to males and 58.1% to females. The most common frequency was detected in the 21‒30-year age group. The most common site of involvement was the mandibular molars with 48.3%, maxillary incisors with 32.5% and maxillary molars with 21.4%, respectively. Distribution frequencies of PA lesions were 11%, 23.9% and 65.1% in the first, second and third periods, respectively. Conclusion: The results showed that the prevalence of PA lesions has increased significantly in recent years. Increased incidence of periapical lesions secondary to root canal therapy (RCT) in the second and third periods in comparison with the first period is an indication of inadequate RCT treatment in patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Candidiasis is an oral infection that is caused in most cases by Candida albicans contamination.It is found as a symbiotic fungus in the oral cavity of 30-60% of healthy subjects. In this study, confirmed cases of oral candidiasis and its relationship with predisposing factors, prevalence of the infection and its variants were studied in patients referring to the Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Yazd, Iran. Materials & Methods: In present cross-sectional study, all the patients' medical records in the Department of Oral Medicine, Yazd Faculty of Dentistry, from May 2013 to May 2015 were reviewed. The necessary data were recorded in the relevant datasheets and analyzed with Fisher’s exact and chi-squared test using SPSS 17 (α = 0.05). Results: Of 13377 medical records evaluated, 123 confirmed candidiasis cases were found. A statistically significant relationship was observed between oral candidiasis and age (p value = 0.004) and use of dentures (p value < 0.001).However, there were no significant relationships between candidiasis and gender (p value = 0.240), smoking and alcohol use (p value = 0.383), use of various medications (p value = 0.180) and different systemic conditions (p value = 0.908). Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, lower age groups were at a higher risk for oral candidiasis. In addition, some types of oral candidiasis such as denture stomatitis and angular cheilitis were more common in patients wearing dentures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The most basic indicator of diabetes care is controlling blood sugar in the normal range. HbA1C has showed blood glucose average in the past 3-2 months and evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. The study has been done with the aim of analyzing the effect of empowerment program on HbA1C in type 2 diabetic patients in Diabetes Center of Kashan. Methodology: In this clinical trial, 100 patients with type 2 diabetes who had inclusion criteria were chosen randomly and they were divided into control and experimental groups by block randomly method. Intervention, were accomplished as educational sessions that twice in a week for 4 weeks. HbA1C test evaluated in two groups in diabetic patients before and after the intervention. Data was analyzed by SPSS 16 and Statistical tests: Mann Whitney U, Chi-square, Exact fisher, T test. Results: In this study, no statistically significant difference was observed between the study groups in demographic variables (P<0.05). However, results of paired t-test indicated a statistically significant difference in the mean score of. Significant difference was observed in the mean score of HbA1C in each group after the intervention (p≤0.0001). While there are no significant difference in mean score of HbA1C in two groups after the intervention (p=0.9). Conclusion: So, use empowerment program in short time has not effects on HbA1C in patients with type 2 diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The tooth pulp reacts to local and systemic stimulation, which might appear as calcified centers or pulp stones. The prevalence of pulp stones has been reported to be different in different studies. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of pulp stones in patients referring to Isfahan Dental School. Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the digital panoramic radiographs in the archives of the Department of Radiology of Isfahan Dental School were assessed and 500 radiographs which met the inclusion criteria were included in the study and evaluated based on tooth number, sex and age of the patients. Data were recorded in special forms and analyzed using SPSS 11.5 with chi-squared test, Fisher's exact test and Spearman's rank correlation (α=0.05). Results: The prevalence of pulp stones was estimated at 25.6%, with 27.2% and 24.5% in males and females, respectively. There was no significant predilection for any sex (p value = 0.488). The difference between the right and left sides was not significant (p value = 0.680); however, chisquared test showed a significantly higher prevalence in maxillary teeth compared to the mandibular teeth (p value = 0.001). In addition, Fisher's exact test revealed significant differences between different age groups (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: Under the limitations of the present study, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of pulp stones between the two sides and the two genders; however, there was a higher prevalence in the maxilla compared to the mandible. Subjects with pulp stones had higher mean ages than those without pulp stones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Vertigo is one of the most medical complains and is due to the involvement of peripheral or central vestibular system. Considering the role of genetic factors, life style, and special diets in the incidence of some kinds of vertigo and the nessecity of informing the patients and family physicians about the common probable reasons and different clinical features of the symptom, it seemed necessary to study its common reasons and the difference of its peripheral and central types in the studied area. Objective: To Determine the relative frequency and clinical, demographic and paraclinic characteristics of central and peripheral vertigo Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 152 patients with vertigo, referred to Amir-Al-Momenin and Poursina hospitals in Rasht, from October 2011 to October 2012. Patients' information and praclinic data were collected and then, analyzed using SPSS.17 software, chi square and Fisher tests. Results: From 107 female and 45 malepatiens(mean age:51.84±16.8years), 55 cases (36.2%) had otologic symptoms and 30 cases (19.7%) had neurological complains (e.g. diplopia, speech disorders, and focal signs).Of the first group, 40 cases (26.3%) had peripheral and 1 case (0.6%) had central vertigo (P=0.007), and in the second group 7 subjects (4.6%) had peripheral and 15 cases (9.8%) had central vertigo (P=0.0001). As shown, 113 cases under went brain MRI that revealed neuro-pathological deficits related to the vertigo only in 19.5% of the cases. Also, in 99 cases audiometery was performed that were abnormal only in 38.4% of the cases. Peripheral verigo was the most common type of vertigo (59.2%), especially Benig Paroxysmal Peripheral Vertigo (BPPV) (47.8%). The frequencies of central and peripheral vertigo in terms of age were not significantly different among the groups (p=0.062); however, central vertigo was more common in men than in women (p=0.04). Conclusion: The most common type of vertigo in our patients was peripheral type, and the physical examination can play an important role in the diagnosis of vertigo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Root canal therapy is one of the most important parts of a general dentist's profession. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic quality of root canal therapy performed by under graduated students at Yazd dental school. Materials and Methods: Records of patients, who were referred to the endodontic department during 2010-2012 and treated by undergraduated students, were divided into three groups by the numbers of canals and 80 specimens from each group were randomly evaluated. For the assessment, the quality of accomplished treatments, the indices: length, taper, and density of obturation were used and the errors during root treatment were recorded. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Chi-square. Results: According to the results, 155 (64.6%) records had appropriate filling length, whereas 55 (22.9%) were underfilled and 30 (12.5%) were overfilled. The acquired difference was statistically significant among three groups. (P<0.001). 187 (77.9%) records had adequate taper and 157 (65.4%) records had adequate density. The difference in the evaluating of taper (P=0.976) and density (P=0.879) was not significant. Totally, 39.2% of specimens had all the properties of an appropriate root canal treatment. Conclusion: The results of the present study can be used to identify weaknesses in the treatment of different educational groups and help them to achieve a proper planning to improve the quality of endodontic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cervicogenic headache is a kind of chronic headache that originates from the bony structures or soft tissues of the neck and is characterized by unilateral headache and lasts from hours to weeks, which can spread to the fronto-tempral and preorbital areas. So far, there has been no exact statistics of prevalence of the cervicogenic headache in Guilan Province. Objective: To determination the relative frequency of cervicogenic headache and its relative factors among patients with chronic headache Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, the patients' files, referred to Neurology clinic of Guilan University of Medical Sciences from March 2010 until September 2012 with complaints of chronic headache, were assessed. We used cervicogenic headache international study group diagnostic criteria for diagnosis of cervicogenic headache. The data were recorded in the special form of information and the relative frequency of cervicogenic headache was determined among them. Independent t-Test, Chi Square and Fisher's Exact test in SPSS software version 18, were used to analyze data. Results: Among 174 patients with chronic headache, a total of 69 patients were identified with cervicogenic headache (39.7%). The mean age of all patients was 40±13.8 years, those with cervicogenic headache were 14.4±46.5 years and those with non-cervicogenic headache were 36.2±11.7 years old (P= 0.0001). Gender distribution was similar in both groups. The mean of headache duration was 34.5±21.9 hours in each episode of headache. As revealed, 95.7% of the patients with cervicogenic headache had neck pain. Conclusion: Cervicogenic headache is prevalent among chronic headaches, but it is almost always ignored whereas early diagnosis and treatment can reduce the expensive course of treatment and disability that accompanies this challenging disorder. Conflict of interest: non declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the basic needs of human is sleep. Research has shown that poor quality of sleep is the 3rd problem in the elderly people, being one of their most common complaints and reason to refer to doctors. The objective of this survey is to study the frequency of sleep disorder and how to deal with it. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 360 people aged 60 or older, using a self-made structured questionnaire and interview. The data entered into SPSS, version 11.5. Descriptive and analytical statistics such as Chi square and Fisher exact tests were used to analyze the data. Results: In this survey, the mean age of the subjects was 67.7±7.33; 70.3% suffered sleep disorder and 81.81% of them had primary insomnia. Sleep disorder showed a significant relationship whit marital status, gender, residency, education and employment. In this survey, 94.5% (239 men) that had sleep disorder used at least one of the non- pharmacological methods and7.5 percent of them used pharmacological methods to cope with sleep disorders. Conclusion: Considering the fact that most of the elderly people used one of the non-pharmacological methods to cope with sleep disorders but still the prevalence of sleep disorders is high, we can conclude that it can be the result of their inappropriate use. Therefore, we recommend that the health care staff should focus on educating the elderly people on how to use the non-pharmacological methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Stridor is considered as a serious adverse complication of intubation that may lead to respiratory distress, reintubation, and further complications. Intravenous steroids including dexamethasone are assumed as an effective therapy. However, their associated side effects pose a limit on their usage. This study was carried out to elucidate the effect of intravenous dexamethasone with inhaled budesonide on the reduction of post-extubation stridor in ICU patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial study included 80 intubated patients with extubation during their stay in the ICU ward. Prior to the extubation, a cuff-leak test was performed for all patients, and those with either negative test results or less than expected were randomly assigned to two groups of A or B (n= 40 each). Group A received 8 mg/8 hr of intravenous dexamethasone, while group B received aerosolized budesonide (0.5 mg/6 hr). Both groups received their medications starting 24 hours prior to the extubation until 24 hours afterwards. All of the patients were examined for stridor for 24 hours following the extubation. The data were collected and analyzed by SPSS-16 software using t-test, Chi-square, Fisher, and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: Post-extubation stridor occurred in 62.5% of the patients in the dexamethasone group vs. 52.5% of the budesonide group. However, this difference is not statistically significant (P= 0.36). Similarly, the difference between the stridor scores for the two groups was not significant either (P= 0.26). Conclusion: Our results show that the effect of intravenous dexamethasone vs. inhaled budsonide was similar on the restriction of post-extubation stridor. Nonetheless, using aerosolized budesonide is recommended due to its fewer associated side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Caesarean sections are the most common surgery in obstetrics and gynecology. However, like any other surgical procedures, they have some disadvantages. Nowadays, unfortunately, Caesarean sections are not carried out necessarily to save the mother and/or the baby, and due to excessive applications they have become a problem worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the related causes of Cesarean delivery in Zanjan. Material and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 697 mothers were selected through random sampling. A questionnaire was completed by each participant and the collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, including chi-square test, Fisher exact, ANOVA, and multivariate logistic analysis. Results: According to our analysis, the recent rate of the Cesarean in Zanjan was about 43%, out of which 43% were elective. The majority of the cases (57.8%), were repeated Cesarean sections and most mothers chose Cesarean because of either fear of pain or for termination of the pregnancy (43.3%). In the present study, the Cesarean section rate correlated significantly with the level of education in mothers (P<0.0001) and family financial status (P=0.01). Conclusion: According to our analysis, promoting public awareness and also efforts towards applying Cesarean sections in only necessary cases could reduce the rate of cesarean in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Nosocomial infections, with their associated increased hospital mortality and hospitalization costs, are discussed as one of the major health problems in communities. Urinary tract infections are known as the most common nosocomial infection that makes up over 40% of all hospital infections. In this study, the role of antibiotics usage before admission to the intensive care unit and the frequency of urinary tract infections during ICU stay were studied. Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was done on 353 patients admitted to the ICUs of Besat and Ekbatan Hospitals in Hamedan. Following up their weekly visits to the ICU, the Patients with urinary tract infections were identified during weekly visits to the ICUs, and variables including the type of antibiotic taken prior to the occurrence of UTI, and the organisms causing the infection were recorded. Data analyses were performed by SPSS program, Chi-Square and Fisher exact tests. Results: Among the 353 patients studied (mean age of 51.2 ± 21.9 years), 61 (17%) were suffering from nosocomial UTI. Most of them (31.1%)] were over 65 years. The urine cultures were positive in 20% of the patients. Gram-negative and Gram -positive bacteria, and fungi made up 41.7%, 33.3% and 25% of the infection cases, respectively. Eighty-five percent of the cases had received antibiotics prior to developing nosocomial UTI, and 55% of the taken antibiotics belonged to the cephalosporin group. Furthermore, 44% of the cases had taken more than one type of antibiotics. There was a significant relationship between the type of microorganism responsible for the infection and the type of antibiotic taken before admission to the ICU (P=0.011). Conclusion: In this study, the frequency of nosocomial UTI was estimated at 17%, and it was found that taking inappropriate/unnecessary antibiotics before entering the ICU had a significant relationship with occurrence of nosocomial UTI. Therefore, educating the public for avoiding unnecessary consumption of antibiotics seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]